latest book recap

Sharing a roundup of the latest books and if they’re worth adding to your collection.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope your week is off to a great start. We’re exploring Kyoto – SO gorgeous here!!- and having the best time. I’ll share more pics in Friday Faves and a recap when we’re back.

In the meantime, I wanted to chat about books. TBH, my book goal has kind of fallen by the wayside this year. I was so consistent the past few years, but lately, by the time we go to bed, I’m exhausted and crash out. I might read for five minutes before I decide to go to sleep… and it takes a long time to finish a book that way!

Now that summer is here, I’m going to spend more time reading with the crew, during the day (<— hoping this makes a huge difference). My current plan (we’ll see how this works) is that in order to have screens, the kids have to make their bed, get dressed and brush their teeth, complete two chores, read for 30 minutes, and move their body (or at least plan to swim or move their body somehow during the day). I’m going to join them for the 30 minutes of reading time and use the time that they’re completing chores to get work stuff done, and we can head out for the adventures of the day. We’ll see how this pans out in real life lol.

Here’s a recap of some of the books I’ve read lately. If you have any summer reads that you’re enjoying, please share the goods in the comments!

latest book recap

Good Grief by Sara Goodman Confino

She’s one of my favorite authors for lighthearted reads and this one is about a new widow, who has an unexpected long-term visit from her mother-in-law. Her plan to get rid of her is to find her a man and she eventually discovers that her mother-in-law has the same plan for HER. There’s lots of shenanigans and I found this to be a sweet read, but not my favorite. (My favorite SGC novel is Don’t Forget to Write). 6/10

From Amazon:

It’s 1963, two years since Barbara Feldman’s husband died. Raising two kids, she’s finally emerging from her cocoon of grief. Not yet a butterfly, but she’s anxious to spread her wings.

Then one day her mother-in-law, Ruth, shows up on her doorstep with five suitcases, expecting a room of her own with a suitable mattress. Abrasive and stuck in her ways yet well meaning, Mother Ruth arrives without warning to help with the children. How can Barbara say no to a woman who is not only a widow herself but also a grieving mother? As Ruth’s prickly visit turns from days to weeks to what seems like forever, Barbara realizes Ruth has got to go. But Barbara has an ingenious plan: introduce Ruth to some fine gentlemen and marry her off as fast as she can.

Soon enough, something tells Barbara that Ruth is trying to do the same for her. At least they’re finding common ground—helping each other to move forward. Even if it is in the most unpredictable ways two totally different women ever imagined.

The Hearts Invisible Furies

This is one of those books that spans an entire lifetime, and took me an entire lifetime to finish it.

It’s about Cyril Avery, a man who grows up with adoptive parents in 1940s Ireland, the circumstances behind his birth, his evoltion and the relationships in his life (and how they all intertwine). As I read this book, I found myself wondering if all of the extra storylines and details were totally necessary… and they were. It broke my heart slowly and the end was absolutely gorgeous. It’s well-written, vivid, descriptive –  a deep and compelling read. 10/10

From Amazon:

Cyril Avery is not a real Avery — or at least, that’s what his adoptive parents tell him. And he never will be. But if he isn’t a real Avery, then who is he?

Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out from her rural Irish community and adopted by a well-to-do if eccentric Dublin couple via the intervention of a hunchbacked Redemptorist nun, Cyril is adrift in the world, anchored only tenuously by his heartfelt friendship with the infinitely more glamourous and dangerous Julian Woodbead. At the mercy of fortune and coincidence, he will spend a lifetime coming to know himself and where he came from – and over his many years, will struggle to discover an identity, a home, a country, and much more.

In this, Boyne’s most transcendent work to date, we are shown the story of Ireland from the 1940s to today through the eyes of one ordinary man. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is a novel to make you laugh and cry while reminding us all of the redemptive power of the human spirit.

High Protein Plate by Rachael DeVaux

This was a new addition to the cookbook collection since I’m always looking for healthy protein and fiber-dense meal ideas. I have Rachael’s previous book and we love so many of the recipes, so I was excited for some new ideas! I’ve read it cover to cover and while I haven’t made anything yet – I received it in the middle of packing and planning mode for our trip – I’ll definitely report back.

From Amazon:

Getting enough protein is essential. It’s needed for health and strength at every stage of life. The more protein you eat, the more satisfied, energized, and resilient you’ll feel. It builds muscle, fuels hormones, and supports every organ.

In The High Protein Plate, Rachael DeVaux, New York Times bestselling author of Rachael’s Good Eats, shows how anyone at any stage of life can easily incorporate protein into their diet. The High Protein Plate includes the following:

– 100 high-protein, craveable recipes for packing protein from breakfast through dessert.

– Straightforward guidance on how much protein you really need—and why it matters.

– Macros for every recipe, so you can easily track what’s best for you.

– Confidence to plan and prepare balanced, purposeful meals.

– Meal prep tips to set you up for success all week long.

– A 28-day plan to help get you started and stay on track.

Real-life practicality meets science-backed nutrition in Rachael’s approach. She embraces better-for-you swaps over strict food rules and shares alternatives to packaged foods so you can build balanced protein-forward plates that are satisfying and simple. From Buffalo Chicken Baked Tacos and Honey Blackberry Overnight Oats to Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta, these meals are made for everyday life.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Lisa See is another one of my favorite authors (read Lady Tan’s Circle of Women if you haven’t) and this was a beautiful story about sisterhood, resilience, and what it may have been like to grow up as a woman in 19th century China. 9/10

From Amazon:

In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu (“women’s writing”). Some girls were paired with laotongs, “old sames,” in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.

With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become “old sames” at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship.

Ok friends, what books have you read lately? What’s on your current list?

I’m currently reading The Hormone Shift and Our Perfect Storm.

xo

Gina